Interior Design Highlights from HOMI 2020 in Milan, as chosen by Livingetc |

published 27 January 2020

This weekend saw the launch of HOMI 2020, The Lifestyle Trade Fair in Milan.

The annual interiors event is dedicated to celebrating the best innovations in design and the forecasted trend predictions, and offers great insight into what designers are creating and what the interior trends are going to be.

The HOMI fair hosted around 600 exhibitors, the vast majority (81 per cent) being Italian designers. However, there was also a decent sprinkling of global talent, notably from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Korea and Japan.

Running between the 24th and 27th of January, the fair is an opportunity for all creators to showcase experimental ideas, materials and projects, covering everything from tableware and textiles to ceramics and creative furniture pieces.

A clear theme running throughout the weekend was a spotlight on sustainability, with many of the projects being created from recycled materials.

Other stand-out themes included organic, rustic inspired design, and modern Italian design.

1. SUSTAINABILITY

Celebrating the dawn of a new awareness on sustainability, HOMI was full of eco-friendly design ideas that are mindful of the environment.

Many of the ideas shown at the HOMI fair were inspired by recycled materials or process waste, encouraging a more sustainable design culture.

A colourful shopping bag, for example, was created by reusing 11 bottles. Also on display were glass tumblers made out of old wine bottles.

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But the project in the spotlight was #HOMINext, an initiative that brings together and promotes sustainable creativity from around the world. This year's #HOMINext project was a thought-provoking furniture piece by Luca Gnizio, titled Ecosocially.

Created from waste materials and intended to raise awareness about pollution, the chairs are meant to act as more as a message, rather than as functional furniture items.

Running along the same theme, other contributions were Fordesert, made from waste material from tyres, which tackles the issue of climate change, and Forsoul glass and Forblacklight fabric, both patented products made from recycled carbon fibre.

The #HOMINext project also aims to directly involve companies present at the exhibition, giving them the opportunity to put heads together with Luca Gnizio to come up with new ways to recycle their waste materials, and coming up with new solutions that are creative, artistic, functional and socially useful.

2. RUSTIC

Another clear trend was rustic, organic and rural-inspired homewares.

Lots of rough materials, worn out textiles, soft pastel shades and organic, natural ceramics.

3. ITALIAN STYLE

Renowned for their elegance and savoir faire, the home-grown talent delivered modern Italian style by the bucketload.

From the ceramics of Caltagirone to elegant Tuscan weaving fabrics, the pieces on display offered modern interpretations of original Italian craftmanship.

Find out more at HOMI, The Lifestyle Trade Fair at fieramilano (Rho).

Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.